Fuel vaporizer



Sept. 2. 1924. 1,501329 W. L. BAUMGARDNER ET AL FUEL VAPORIZER Filed Jan. 4, 1922 2 Sh..t5-3h..\ 1

g. "(Baumyamdner fliorne y .L.Baumganlner Sept. 2, 1924.

W. L. BAUMGARDNER ET AL FUEL VAPOR! ZER Filed Jan. 4. 1922 2 ShQO\-l$h00l 2 gazdzwr E.WBawmyardner In Wen tors WLBaum M fli'i'orneg Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM L. navmenzmnen AND mm. w. Baummnnnaa, or wmeonvimn,

onuromrm.

FUEL VAPORIZER.

Application filed January 4, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WiLLiAM L. BAUM- GARDNER and EARL W. BAUMGARDNBR, citizens of the United States, residing at Watsonville, in the county of Santa Cruz and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fuel Vaporizers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fuel vaporizers and particularly pertains to gaseous fuel generating means for internal combustion engines.

Liquid fuel at present obtainable for internal combustion engines is of very poor grade and the matter of its carburetion has become very important. It is the principal object of the present invention therefore to provide a generally improved fuel vap0rizer for use in connection with internal combustion engines, which vaporizer will supply the engine with a high grade gaseous fuel, thereby increasing the efiicienoy of the motor and reducing the fuel consumption thereof to a minimum, said fuel embodying the use of a highly heated aqueous vapor, such as steam, as one of its ingredients, the in the mixture acting to more thoroughly heat the vaporized liquid fuel and thereby breaking it up, so that in mixing with the air passing through the apparatus it Will commingle therewith to form a substantially homogeneous explosive gas.

The invention contemplates the use of an apparatus whereby steam will be generated and delivered to a heated vaporizing chamber there coming in contact with, atomizing and absorbing the liquid fuel; the vapor formed being then admitted to the inmanifold of an internal combustion engine, where it mixes with fresh air after which it is delivered to an explosion engine.

One form which our invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying 45 d rawings. in whichig. 1 is a view disclosing our device applied to an internal combustion engine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the device partially in section and elevation. I

Fi 3 is an enlarged detail of the air heatin e lement.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the water valve.

Referring more ings, 10 generally particularly to the drawindicates an internal coin- Serial No. 526,988. 7 V bustion motor, the motor having a c linder block 11, an exhaust manifold 12 and aii intake manifold 13. Arranged adjacent the intake manifold and supported in rennet therctois a vaporizing apparatus embodying do the present invention. Referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the apparatus has a main casing 14. This casing comprises three concentric tubular members l5, l6 and 17, which are spaced in 66 relation to one another forming annular chambers 18 and 19 and a central vaporizing chamber 20. The tubular members are supported in their proper relative sitions'at one end by a cap 21, and at the o liererid by a; a valve cage 22. his valve cage 22ispifo vided with a central chamber 23 which communicates with the interior of the intake manifold by a passageway 24 and with the vaporizing chamber 20 by a valve passageway 25; the latter passageway being formed to seat the throttle valve 26; this valve hair ing a stem 27 supported by the cage 22, through which it extends to connect with an operatin mechanism hereinafter more fully describe V i Mounted adjacent and sup orted by the casing .14 is a frame 27, whic supports an H-shaped valve body 28 Within which is mounted a fuel control valve 29 and a fuel check valve 30. The fuel check valve 30 controls the source of fuel supply which is delivered to valve body by the suppl pipe 31. In other Words it interrupts the channel 32 which connects the supply pipe'3lwith the fuel control valve 29. Also supported by the frame 27 is a cylinder 33 whichis provided with a plunger 34"and airegpam sion spring 35; the latter servingftiihold the plunger in its lowermost position. "The upper end of this cylinder is connected by a T-shaped fitting 37. The intenor of the fitting 37 is in communication with the interior of the manifold by a connection 38 which is controlled a needle I00 valve 39. The valve 39 is controlled from the dash board of the automobileby a a nectioh 40 which 0 crates" V V 41 against the end 0 the valv V V The spring 43 is adapted to nornrfilykeep'the valve open.

Depending from the bottom ofthe plunger 34 is a link 44 which pivotally'conneets o a lever 45. This lever is pivotali' ted to the frame 27, as at 46,9116 t e lowermost end of the push rod 47. The push ulated by the nut 79. It is understood that rod 47 enters the H-shaped valve body 28 and the stationary end of the spring barrel may engages the lower end of the stem of the fuel be secured at any desirable point. check valve 30 so that when the motor is on Another feature of the present invention 5 the suction stroke the cylinder 33 will be is the means provided for heating and mois- To evacuated. This will cause the plunger 34 tening the air admitted to the vaporizing to rise, raising the lever through the mechamber. Referring to Fig. 8, 80 indicates dium of the link 44 and will raise the push the exhaust pipe of the motor which extends rod 47 and unseat the valve 30, thereby adfrom the exhaust manifold 12 and from 10 mitting fuel to the channel 32. which heat is obtained. Circumscribing the As before stated the fuel control valve 29 exhaust pipe is a heating chamber 81 having s mounted in the H-shaped valve body 23 an air inlet 82 and a discharge pipe 83 leadand interrupts the passage of fuel from the ing to the vaporizer. It is intended that channel 32 into the fuel inlet pipe 35. The the air supplied to the vaporizer be mois- 16 valve 29 is provided with an enlarged cytoned and for this purpose a pipe 84 and a lindrical portion 48 and an extending square water valve have been provided. The shank 49; the former being mounted in a water valve 85 is controlled by the suction bearing 50. The bearing 50 has a rectangustroke of the motor which creates a vacuum lar base 51, which is provided with slots 52 in the pipe 86' and the valve casing 86 and 20 in which are mounted screws 53, the latter influences the plunger 87 to unseat the valve 5 being secured to the frame 27 Engaging and allow water to enter the pipe 84 from a a pin 54 which extends from and secured to supply pipe 88, which may obtain water the rear side of the bearing 50 is a fulcrum from any suitable source. This arrangement lever 55. The free end of this fulcrum lever is also controlled by the valve 89 in the fit- 25 is connected with the dash board of the autin 37 as is the fuel check valve. tomobile by a link 56, a bell crank 57 and he water entering the pipe 84 lowers by a connection 58, with the View of providing gravity into the chamber 81 where it disadjustment of the fuel valve 29 by raising charges from the pipe 84 and contacts with or lowering the bearin member 50 which the hot exhaust pipe 80. This evaporates raises or lowers the va vs 29 in relation to the water and heats the surrounding air the orifice, 59. which passes into the vaporizing chamber The valve 29 proper may be reciprocated by as steam. rotating it. For this purpose a cam slot In operation it will be assumed that the 60 is formed in the baring 50. Engaging motor is running and the three main valves 5 this slot and secured to the valve is a pin and the valve 39 of the apparatus are open. 199 61. It is readily seen that u on partial ro- The main casing 14 and the exhaust pipe tation of the valve it will e lowered or 80 will naturally become hot immediately raised as the case may be. after the motor has started. The casing is It should be stated that the throttle valve heated by steam from the chamber 81 and 40 26, the fuel valve 29 and the fresh air inlet by the heat radiated from the motor. On valve 62 are operated in unison. This is the suction stroke of the motor, water vapor accomplished in a manner which will now will be drawn into the vaporizer 14 from be described. Mounted on the bracket 63 is the heating chamber 81. Simultaneous with a lever 64, having one end operatively conthis, a vacuum will be created in the cylin- 45 nected to the throttle valve stem 27 and the der 33 and the piston 34 will rise to operate other end connected to the link 65. This the link mechanism which is connected to link in turn connects with a pivotal lever the check valve 30 for unseating the same.

66 which has a bifurcated or forked end This will allow the liquid fuel to be drawn 67. Rotatably mounted in the extension 68 through the channel 32 and the fuel inlet 50 of the bearing 50 is a bell crank lever 69 havpipe and discharge into the vaporizer. The ing one arm 70 supporting a pin 71 which steam will surround the intermediate tubuengages the forked end of the lever 66. The lar member 16 and be drawn through the other arm of the bell crank 69 extends and aperture 90 therein simultaneous with the connects with a spring barrel 72 and has an injection of the liquid fuel. The latter will 55 angular extension 73 which connects by a be thoroughly mixed with the steam and link 74 andthe crank arm 75 to the valve will then travel the length of the casing shaft 76 of the inlet butterfly valve 62. 14 to enter the main chamber 20 through the These three valves may be operated in uniperforations 91. During the period of travson from the dashboard to where the conel into the main chamber 20, the liquid fuel 60 nection 78 may be led and connected to a is thoroughly atomized or broken up and 2 foot pedal or throttle button, not shown in mixed with the steam, due to mechanical the drawin as desired. The spring barrel action and the heat of the steam, thus form- 72 is provi ed for the purpose ofnormally ing a homogeneous mixture, which on the. retaining the threevalves closed. The tensucceeding suction stroke of the motor is of the spring in the barrel may be regdrawn into the manifold. Fresh air is also memes drawn into the manifold through the passsage 93. This fresh air mixes with the fuel vapor in the manifold forming an ideal combustible mixture, w lab is supplied to the cylinders.

At times it is desirable to allow the raw fuel to be admitted to the vaporizer and allow it to collect in the bottom thereof and rise in vapor form due to the heat of the chamber and find its way to the main chamber 20, where it mixes with water vapor admitted through the by-pass valre 94am? the pipe connection 95. By so forming the mixture, the fuel will be admitted to the manifold at a higher temperature.

As before described various adjustments of the various valves are obtainable, which at all times enable the operator of the car to obtain a mixture as rich as desired.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the valve 39 may be closed while the engine is runnin By closing this valve, the entire fuel supp y is out 0E from the vaporizer, thus allowing only fresh air into the cylinders so that the car may coast under compression. This not only provides breaking power to the car, but prevents carbonization in the cylinders.

From the foregoing it is obvious that an apparatus has been "provided that is very efiicient in nature and which is adapted to supply a perfect combustible mixture to the motor, thereby increasing the efiiciency and reducing the fuel consumption thereof to a minimum; the ap aratus also having the controllin and a justing mechanism connected wi the dashboard of the car so that the driver may expeditiously adjust the apparatus to obtain a mixture of any de sired density. Further, the apparatus automatically adapts itself to supply the correct amount of fuel to the engine under any load or condition, thus reventing too rich a mixture under light lliads which will overheat the motor and cause an unnecessary large fuel consum tion.

While we ave shown the preferred form of our invention, as now known to us, we wish it understood that various changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departin from the spirit of the invention as claimef.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patout is 1. A vaporizer for an'internal combustion motor comprising a main casing formed of three concen ric tubu a membe s of d ff rent diameters and connected at their ends to form an outer annular chamber, an intermediate annular chamber and a central vaporizing chamber, means for introducing steam to the outer chamber at one end of the casing, a passageway formed between the outer and intermediate chamber at the opposite end of the casing, means for injecting liquid fuel into said chambers at said passageway, means establishing communication between the intermediate chamber and the central chamber at the end of the casing opposite said passageway where by steam and fuel admitted to the casing will mix in the intermediate chamber and enter the central vaporizing chamber to form an explosive gas, and a valve controlled passageway between said central chamber and the intake manifold of the en gine.

2. A vaporizer for an internal combustion motor comprising a main casing formed of three concentric tubular members of different diameters and connected at their ends to form an outer annular chamber, an inter mediate annular chamber and a central va porizing chamber, means for introducing steam to the outer chamber at one end of the casing, a passageway formed between the outer and intermediate chamber at the opposite end of the casing, means for in jecting liquid fuel into said chambers at Said passageway, means establishing communication between the intermediate chamber and the central chamber at the end of the casing opposite said passageway whereby steam and fuel admitted to the casing will mix in the intermediate chamber and enter the central vaporizing chamber to form an explosive gas, a valve controlled passageway between said central chamber and the intake manifold of the engine, and means controlled by the suction of the motor for regulating the amount of liquid fuel delivered to the chamber.

3. A vaporizer for an internalcombustion motor comprising a main casing formed of three concentric tubular members of different diameters and connected at their ends to form an outer annular chamber, an intermediate annular chamber and a central aporizin igq chamber. means for introducing steam to t e outer chamber at one end of the casing, a passageway formed between the outer and intermediate chamber at the opposite end of the casing, means for injecting liquid fuel into said chambers at said pas sageway, means establishing communication between the intermediate chamber and the central chamber at the end of the casing opposite said passageway whereby steameand fuel admitted to th e casing will {nix in the intermediate chamber and enter the. central vaporizing chamber to form an explosive gas, a valve controlled passageway between said central chamber and the intake manifold of the engine, means controlled by the suction of the motor for regulating the amount of liquid fuel delivered to the chamher, said last named means comprising a cylinder in communication with the intake manifold of the engine, a spring pressed plunger in said cylinder adapted to be operated by suction of the engine, fuel supply pipe connected to said valve body, a fuel inlet pipe connecting said valve body with the main casing, a fuel check valve in said valve body controlling the ad mission of fuel from the supply pipe, an operative connection between said plunger and said check valve for operating the latter. and an adjustable control valve in said valve body to regulate the discharge of fuel from the valve body into said inlet.

4. A vaporizer for internal combustion motors comprising a vaporizing chamber, means for admitting steam therein, means for injecting liquid fuel into the vaporizing chamber, means controlled by the suction of the motor for regulating the amount of liquid fuel delivered to the chamber, said last named means comprising a vacuum cylinder in communication with the intake manifold of the motor, a spring pressed plunger in said cylinder adapted to be operated by suction of the motor, a valve body, a fuel supply pipe connected to said valve body, a fuel inlet pipe connecting said valve body with the vaporizing chamber, a check valve in said valve body controlling the admission of fuel from the supply pipe, an operative connection between said plunger and said check valve for operating the latter, and an adjustable control valve in said valve body to regulate the discharge of fuel from the valve body into said inlet pipe.

5. A vaporizer for internal combustion motors comprisin a vaporizing chamber, means for admittin steam therein, means for injecting liquid fuel into the vaporizing chamber, means controlled by the suction of the motor for regulating the amount of liq uid fuel delivered to the chamber, said last named means comprising a vacuum cylinder in communication with the intake manifold of the motor, a spring pressed plunger in said cylinder adapted to e operated b suc tion of the motor, a valve body, a fue supply pipe connected to said valve body, a fuel inlet pipe connecting said valve body with the vaporizing chamber, a check valve in said valve body controlling the admission of fuel from the supply pipe, an operative con nection between said plunger and said check valve for operating the latter, an adjustable control valve in said valve body to regulate the discharge of fuel from the valve body into said inlet pipe, and communicating means between said cylinder and the manifold including a pipe, a valve in the pipe, and a control for said valve extending to the dash of the automobile.

a valve body, a

6. A vaporizing apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising a casing having a vaporizing chamber therein, means for generating and admitting steam to the chamber, means controlled by the suction of the motor to regulate and admit liquid fuel to the chamber, said means comprising a vacuum cylinder in communication with the intake manifold of the engine, a plunger in said cylinder operable by suction of the engine, a valve body, a fuel supply pipe connected to said valve body, a fuel inlet pipe connecting said valve body with the vaporizing chamber, a check valve in the valve body controlling the admission of fuel from the supply pipe, an operative connection between said plunger and said check valve operating the latter, an adjustable control valve in said valve body to regulate the discharge of fuel from the valve body into said inlet pipe, a passageway between the vaporizing chamber and the intake manifold of the engine, a throttle valve in said passageway, a fresh air inlet valve in the manifold, and means for simultaneously opening said valves to admit vapor from the chamher and fresh air from atmosphere into the manifold.

7. A vaporizing apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising a casing having a vaporizing chamber therein, means for generating and admitting steam to the chamber, means controlled by the suction of the motor to regulate and admit liquid fuel to the chamber, said means comprising a vacuum cylinder in communication with the intake manifold of the engine, a plunger in said cylinder operable by suction of the engine, a valve body, a fuel suppl pipe connected to said valve body, a fue inlet pipe connecting said valve body with the vaporizing chamber. a check valve in the valve body controlling the admission of fuel from the supply pipe, an operative connection be tween said plunger and said check valve op erating the latter, an adjustable control valve in said valve body to regulate the discharge of fuel from the valve body into said inlet pipe, a passageway between the vaporizing chamber and the intake manifold of the engine, a throttle valve in said passageway, a fresh air inlet valve in the manifold, and a control means operable from the dash of the automobile for simultaneously operating the throttle valve, the fresh air intake valve and the fuel control valve in the valve body in unison, and means normally tending to maintain said valves closed.

WILLIAM L. BAUMGARDNER. EARL W. BAUMGARDNER. 

